From history lessons to soccer, Issaquah will have many opportunities for those wanting to celebrate America this Fourth of July.

While the events will largely resemble last year’s, organizers hope the tried-and-true celebrations will offer the same level of community involvement and entertainment. Both the Down Home 4th of July and Heritage Day will take place in downtown.

The Swedish Hospital Kids ‘n Pets Parade will kick off the day, beginning at 11 a.m. It will wind its way down Front Street North and East Sunset Way before ending at Veterans’ Memorial Field.

“We will have a lot of the traditional favorites come back,” Issaquah Chamber of Commerce Director of Festivals Robin Kelley said.

Al Brewer has joined the AmericanWest Bank as vice president and Residential Lending Team lead for Western Washington.

Brewer has more than 20 years of banking experience with extensive expertise in residential lending, leadership and managing successful branches. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire.

State park proposals have merits, limits

Washington State Parks needs to seek specific Requests for Proposals for improvements to Lake Sammamish State Park, the jewel at the mouth of Issaquah Creek.

Earlier this month, State Parks and the city of Issaquah received only three proposals in response to its call for RFPs. The two agencies were trying to get outside-the-box ideas that would add to Lake Sammamish park’s bottom line as well as help the city’s economic development.

Three project proposals for Lake Sammamish State Park, including one to totally remake the park with a hotel/convention center, came to the city’s Economic Development Department by the deadline Sept. 9.

In a joint effort with Washington State Parks, the city released a request for proposals in August, asking for project ideas to reinvigorate and make use of the park under the redevelopment and restoration plan adopted in 2007.

Economic Development Director Keith Niven said the three full project outlines are markedly different, but he found positive aspects across the board.

By Issaquah Soccer ClubSix multi-use sports fields with new lighting and accessibility are in a proposal submitted by the Issaquah Soccer Club, in response to the request for ideas made jointly by city’s Economic Development Department and Washington State Parks.

“I see all of these to be viable choices for the park,” he said. “I think they can all fit. I don’t think there is anything on the table that can’t be mitigated.”

Kristof Hefty (left), of the Issaquah Soccer Club Gunners U11 team, faces off in a match against a member of Arsenal Academy during the local team’s recent tour in London. By Zheng Li

Four Issaquah Soccer Club teams traveled to London recently for a 10-day soccer tour to learn how the English play the game.

Jimmy Ball, the club’s director of football and coach of four Issaquah premier teams, used to play and coach in England. He said his connections, along with a company called XLTravel that organized airfare, hotel and transportation and coordinated with the academies, allowed the young players to experience English soccer at its best.

“Just watching those premier league games was a great experience for them,” Ball said. “To see live matches — pros playing, the speed of their play and … how they kept the ball so well — was one thing that I was hoping they would learn, and they did.”]

At its worst, epilepsy with myoclonic absences caused 1,000 seizures a day

Gabe Uribe, 10, a proficient soccer player, shows his prowess by kicking the ball held by his sister Ava, 7, and his mother Cindy. By Greg Farrar

Cindy Uribe can remember when her 10-year-old son was just 16 months old, turning heads on the soccer pitch.

“We’d gone to the Seattle University’s soccer field for a pickup game. Gabe had an infant’s soccer ball and was dribbling it up and down the sideline,” she recalled. “The adults were amazed by Gabe showing such control at such a young age.”

However, Gabe is just now regaining those promising soccer skills. At age 3, something happened. A bout with a rare form of epilepsy sidetracked all of his motor skills.